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arXiv · 2006.01806

OSSOS XX: The Meaning of Kuiper Belt Colors

David Nesvorny·David Vokrouhlicky·Mike Alexandersen·Michele T. Bannister·Laura E. Buchanan·Ying-Tung Chen·Brett J. Gladman·Stephen D. J. Gwyn·J. J. Kavelaars·Jean-Marc Petit·Megan E. Schwamb·Kathryn Volk
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Abstract

Observations show that 100-km-class Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) can be divided in (at least) two color groups, hereafter red (R, g-i<1.2) and very red (VR, g-i>1.2), reflecting a difference in their surface composition. This is thought to imply that KBOs formed over a relatively wide range of radial distance, r. The cold classicals at 42 r*, with 30<r*<40 au. The proposed transition at 30<r*<40 au would explain why the VR objects in the dynamically hot population have smaller orbital inclinations than the R objects, because the orbital excitation from Neptune weakens for orbits starting beyond 30 au. Possible causes of the R-VR color bimodality are discussed.

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David Nesvorny, David Vokrouhlicky, Mike Alexandersen, Michele T. Bannister, Laura E. Buchanan, Ying-Tung Chen, Brett J. Gladman, Stephen D. J. Gwyn, J. J. Kavelaars, Jean-Marc Petit, Megan E. Schwamb, Kathryn Volk. 2020-06-02. OSSOS XX: The Meaning of Kuiper Belt Colors. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab98fb

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